WASHINGTON, D.C. – CropLife America commends the leadership of the conference committee in producing a Farm Bill conference report that addresses important issues, as farmers prepare for their next growing season. Language included in the Farm Bill places greater importance on the interagency process established earlier this year by key agencies for endangered species review of pesticides, giving Congress an opportunity to help create a more efficient process for harmonizing agriculture and endangered species conservation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – CropLife America (CLA), the national association representing the manufacturers, distributors and formulators of organic and conventional pesticides, as well as other crop protection products, has elected Susanne Wasson with Corteva Agriscience™ as its newest chair of the CLA Board of Directors. Wasson will hold the position for two years and use her diverse background to help guide the association, working with newly hired President and CEO Chris Novak.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – CropLife America (CLA) president and CEO Jay Vroom spoke today at the 40th National Agronomic Environmental, Health and Safety School (NAEHSS) event in Bloomington, Illinois, to share reflections from his 30 years of executive leadership in the crop protection industry. His presentation highlighted the importance of safety and stewardship efforts.

Bloomington, IL – CropLife America President and CEO Jay Vroom presented at the 2018 Illinois Farm Bureau President’s Conference with a focus on, “Successful Ag Advocacy 2018, It’s Back to the Future!”, in Bloomington, IL. Conference attendees were principally presidents and other leaders from more than 90 county Farm Bureaus across Illinois. The presentation comes at a time when farm voices are crucial to the successful passage of the 2018 Farm Bill and the changing U.S. approach to trade policy. Vroom’s presentation complements an agenda focused on the many difficult issues facing farmers in the current climate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bill Kuckuck announced today, that he plans to retire from his position as executive vice president and chief operating officer on December 31, 2018. Bill joined the CropLife America (CLA) staff a decade ago to oversee the finance, communications and administrative efforts of the association. His announcement follows that of Jay Vroom, CLA’s president and CEO, who announced he would retire from his position, after nearly 30 years, at the end of 2018.

WASHINGTON, DC – CropLife America (CLA) commends the leadership of House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway and Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Chairman Rodney Davis for their leadership on the passage of the H.R. 2, more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill. The House passed H.R. 2 by a vote of 213 to 211, late yesterday.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – CropLife America (CLA), the leading association for the U.S. crop protection industry, has selected its next president and CEO. “I’m pleased to announce that Mr. Chris Novak has been selected by our Board’s search committee to become just the fifth staff leader of our association in its 85-year history. Chris brings a wealth of agriculture trade association and industry experience to CLA, in particular his recent roles as CEO of the National Corn Growers Association and National Pork Board,” noted CLA Board Chairman and Bayer North America President and CEO of the Crop Science Division Jim Blome. “With his broad experience and years of working alongside CLA as a key ally, Chris knows our association and industry and is eminently qualified to succeed our long serving CEO, Jay Vroom.”

WASHINGTON, DC– CropLife America (CLA) commends the leadership of House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway on the introduction of HR 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill. The United States farm economy has suffered over the past several years and Chairman Conaway’s Farm Bill reaffirms support for vital programs and protections for rural America. With net farm income languishing through an extended period of depressed stagnation, the Farm Bill ensures certainty by helping producers manage the significant risks that are the norm in agriculture.

WASHINGTON, DC– The Environmental Working Group (EWG) once again released its annual “Dirty Dozen” list this week, cautioning consumers against purchasing and consuming a baker’s dozen, that’s 13, different nutritious fruits and vegetables. Each year, EWG releases its list and starts by saying that, “All adults and children should eat more fruits and vegetables, whether they are organic or conventionally grown.” While citing many of the organization’s own resources, they fail to link to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Pesticide Data Program (PDP) report, where EWG has cherry picked information to make its claims. As is expected, EWG uses the PDP data to create statistics that promote fear and avoids addressing the fact that residue in nearly 100 percent of the produce tested were present at levels far below tolerances set by regulatory agencies.

WASHINGTON, DC & DES MOINES, IOWA– Today, together with key partners, the CropLife Foundation and Meredith Agrimedia launched the “No Taste for Waste” campaign, an initiative to reduce food waste and loss. The campaign, which includes an interactive website, special edition “bookazine” and social media messages, is a resource for consumers interested in reducing household food waste, while educating the public on how farmers take steps to fight food loss on their farms.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Regulatory agencies worldwide have long based their pesticide approvals on a meticulous and in-depth review of extensive pesticide safety data developed by manufacturers. In the U.S., federal law requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make pesticide safety data available to the public, which has made the U.S. a world leader in transparency and access to the public.

WASHINGTON, DC– Yesterday, the Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC) announced Mark Hudson as the new executive director. Mark succeeds ACRC’s previous executive director, Ron Perkins, who retired at the end of February after successfully leading the council for the past 10 years.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– On Monday, February 26, the Eastern District of California issued a preliminary injunction barring California from enforcing its Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65) warning requirement for the herbicide glyphosate. As part of a broad coalition of agricultural groups, CropLife America (CLA) argued that the Proposition 65 listing and warning requirement violates the First Amendment by compelling companies to make misleading and highly controversial statements about their products. This injunction is an important outcome, as the judge held that now California cannot enforce the warning requirement as it relates to glyphosate as this case continues in court.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Yesterday, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Bill Northey, the current Iowa Agriculture Secretary, as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) undersecretary for farm production and conservation. CropLife America (CLA) supports this appointment and looks forward to working with Mr. Northey as he steps into this position.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– CropLife America (CLA) and RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment®) applaud the administration’s efforts to improve federal protection of endangered and threatened species and their habitats.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, CropLife America joined a diverse group of manufacturing, energy and food interests in a new alliance – the Campaign for Accuracy in Public Health Research (CAPHR) Coalition. The CAPHR Coalition is dedicated to credible, unbiased and balanced science in policymaking and will advocate at all levels of government, both in the U.S. and internationally to ensure decision-making and advisory bodies pursue science-based decision frameworks to guide their work.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– As announced last September at the CropLife America (CLA) Annual Meeting, CLA president and CEO Jay Vroom will retire from his position at the end of 2018. “CLA members are global leaders in crop technology innovation and a successful search for the next CEO will provide vital industry leadership into a future where food demand and environmental sustainability will expand dramatically,” noted Vroom.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– CropLife America (CLA) is proud to announce the launch of its revamped website, unveiled today. The redesigned website still features timely information about the crop protection industry, but with an updated look and easily shareable modern agriculture resources (i.e. infographics, posters, etc.). The goal is to enhance overall operation, navigability and present a more mobile-friendly platform.